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Think You're a True Soldier? Take This Army Quiz!

John Miller

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About This Quiz

When the British unfurled one oppressive act after another on their own New World colony, they stoked resentment that ultimately exploded with rage. Aspiring Americans built their own army and their own way of life, and then sought to keep their liberties and live their lives as they saw fit. Since colonial days, that army has changed in ways that would amaze (and perhaps confound) the Founding Fathers. What do you really know about the United States Army?

The Continental Army started it all – these men, many of whom had very little combat experience, followed George Washington and his officers through wretched conditions. Slowly but surely, they improved on the battlefield and defeated the British. What do recall about the big battles in Army history?

By all accounts, the U.S. Army is one branch of the most powerful military that the world has ever witnessed. With its incredible budget, it can afford the latest and greatest in weapons, fortifications and high-tech gadgetry that intimidates most countries into submission. What do you know about the modern U.S. Army?

Let’s see how much you really know about the most potent army on Earth. Join the fray of this incredible American Army quiz now!

Who was the first commander-in-chief of America's Army?

James Madison

Thomas Jefferson

George Washington

Filled with revolutionary vigor and legendary stubbornness, George Washington was the Army's first commander-in-chief. After winning the Revolution, he became the first U.S. president.

Which U.S. president was awarded the Medal of Honor for his combat service in the U.S. Army?

John Tyler

Donald Trump

Theodore Roosevelt

As commander of the Rough Riders cavalry unit in the Spanish-American War, Theodore Roosevelt was admired for his fearless nature. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 2001.

The Continental Army was weak compared to British forces during the American Revolution. So how did the Army beat the British?

guerrilla tactics

arson -- lots of arson

nukes

The Continental Army couldn't take the redcoats in a pitched battle. So rebel generals adopted hit-and-run tactics to strike the British. Then, they'd dash off to safety.

What was the deadliest war in U.S. Army history?

Vietnam War

World War I

Civil War

Altogether, about 620,000 troops from the North and South died in the Civil War, making it by far the bloodiest war in American history. Until recently, the Civil War featured more casualties than all of America's other wars combined.

What's the Army's official march?

"The Army Goes Rolling Along"

"Red Tape on Parade"

"How About Those Bombs?"

The Army's official march is, "The Army Goes Rolling Along." The branch's first official march was actually, "The Army's Always There," but it was eventually nixed because it sounded too much like, "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts," and we did not make that part up.

What is the most common rank in the Army?

ensign

specialist

lieutenant

It's jokingly called the "E-4 Mafia" in reference to the fact that there are so many specialists in the Army. Specialists account for about 25% of all Army members.

Who was posthumously promoted to General of the Armies of the United States in 1976?

James Polk

Franklin Roosevelt

George Washington

In recognition of his fame and importance to the birth of the U.S., in 1976 officials named George Washington as General of the Armies of the United States. No one will ever outrank him.

Francis Marion was an Army officer who rose to fame during which conflict?

World War I

Civil War

American Revolution

Marion confounded the British during the Revolution. He was particularly adept in developing hit-and-run tactics that gave his overpowered men a fighting chance against the superior British Army.

George Patton was a famous general who served during which war?

Korean War

Gulf War

World War II

At times he was brilliant, and at others reckless, Patton was a dynamic general of World War II. His PR stumbles were equalled by his battlefield genius.

To date, American has had 45 presidents. How many of those presidents served in the Army (or related militias)?

24

4

all of them

Military service isn't a prerequisite for becoming commander-in-chief, but the numbers might make you think it is. Of America's 45 presidents, 24 servied in either the Army or a militia.

What is the biggest Army base in the U.S.?

Fort Carson

Fort Benning

Fort Bragg

Fort Bragg, located in North Carolina, has the Army's largest base population -- there are about 240,000 soldiers stationed there. The huge base sprawls for over 163,000 acres.

True or false, is the Army the country's biggest employer?

true

false

Walmart has twice as many employees as the Army. Including National Guard and the reserves, the Army has about 1 million soldiers.

The Army Rangers are elite soldiers who, in the 1700s, honed their skills in which kind of fighting?

naval combat

dogfighting

frontier warfare

In the 18th century, Rangers literally roamed from one frontier fortress to the next. Their survival skills and innate understanding of wilderness combat made them formidable opponents. Today, they are still renowned for their toughness and specialized skills.

What material makes up the majority of the Army's budget?

fuel

artillery shells

bullets

The Army consumes vast oceans of fuel each year. It's so much fuel, in fact, that fuel makes up about 70% of the branch's budget.

What happened to the Continental Army after the American Revolution?

It was disbanded.

It sailed to Britain and lopped off King George's head.

Its headquarters was moved to Fort Riley.

In the wake of their glorious triumph in the Revolution, American leaders did away with the Army that gave them their freedom. Why? They feared that a large standing army might result in political tyranny.

Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr. was the highest-ranking U.S. officer killed during World War II. How did he die?

artillery fire

infantry charge

sniper

Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr. was lieutenant general when he was killed by Japanese artillery fire at the Battle of Okinawa. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of four-star general.

Who is Mark Esper?

Secretary of the Army

the man who invented the M16 rifle

a WWII hero

Mark Esper is the Secretary of the Army. During the Gulf War, he was an officer in the 101st Airborne and was awarded a Bronze Star for his battlefield actions.

When was the last time the U.S. Army used the draft to fill its ranks?

1943

1812

1973

During the Vietnam War, the government resorted to a draft to get enough warm bodies for Army uniforms. Some civilians dodged the draft to avoid service in what they saw as a suicidal and pointless fight.

What's the U.S. Army's motto?

"Protectors of Freedom"

"This We'll Defend"

"That's a Nice Oil Field You Got There"

The Army's motto is, "This We'll Defend." The Army performs vital services in the name of national defense.

How many pounds of batteries does a modern 30-man platoon carry for a three-day mission?

400 pounds

4,000 pounds

40,000 pounds

Today's Army is a an advanced digital endeavor. Thirty soldiers need about 400 pounds of batteries for just 72 hours of action.

"Sham Shield" is a slang term that refers to soldiers of which rank?

general

captain

specialist

It's a deragatory reference to the insignia worn by E-4 Specialists in the Army -- the "Sham Shield." It's because so many E-4 troops have a reputation for just scraping by, doing the least amount of work possible.

True or false, is the Army older than the United States itself?

true

false

The Second Continental Congress created the Continental Army on June 14, 1775. That's nearly a year before the Declaration of Independence, making the Army older than the country it fought to establish.

What's a nickname force for Delta Force, a special operations group in the Army?

"Black Dogs"

"The Sky Soldiers"

"The Unit"

Delta Force is a legendary group of elite Army soldiers. "The Unit" is trained and outfitted for some of the Army's top-secret missions.

About how many regular troops does the current Army have on hand?

about 90,000

about 470,000

about 1.2 million

The U.S. Army has about 470,000 regular troops on duty. Altogether, this branch has more than 1 million uniformed personnel.

True or false, was the Army the driving force behind the U.S. victories in the Spanish-American War?

true

false

False. Almost all of the big battles of the Spanish-American were fought overseas and in foreign waters. The Navy was the key military force in those triumphs.

The Army needs about 22 gallons of fuel per day, per soldier, to keep the Army working smoothly. What was that number like during WWII?

1 gallon per day

39 gallons per day

81 gallons per day

Today's Army is a high-tech monster with a voracious hunger for energy -- 22 gallons of fuel per soldier, per day. In WWII, the Army needed only 1 gallon of fuel per soldier per day.

Why was George Washington selected as the Army's first commander-in-chief?

No one else wanted the job.

He was the most qualified.

He once killed a bear with his bare hands.

Washington seemed reluctant to become the Continental Army's commander. But he was the most experienced (native born) officer available, and so the job was his for the taking.

True or false, does the Army have more manned aircraft than the Navy?

true

false

Both the Army and Navy have thousands of aircraft at their disposal. Currently, the Army has around 4,400 aircraft … the Navy has about 3,700.

The Army has about how many bases around the world?

160

5

2,300

The U.S. Army is a multifaceted military beast, one with tentacles all over the world. There are about 160 Army bases counted among about 800 total U.S. military bases.

What's the military's current approximate budget?

about $100 billion

about $700 billion

about $15 trillion

America spends a ghastly amount of money each year to fund its military enterprises. And much of that $700 billion goes the Army.

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